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Mainstage 2 and Loopback. The Trilogy.


      
      

      
      
      
        
      
    
Blog Post: 
Tutorial
UPDATE:  If you'd like to see the second and third parts of this series, they are available on audiopropellor.com - my awesome audio tutorial website.  Signup is free.  You can see the entire series here:  http://www.audiopropellor.com/category/video-series/mainstage-live-looping/.  Many, many people have found the series useful - check it out!


Mainstage is a live performance host for logic and other Audio Unit plugins. Mainstage 2 brings a few new features, a looper and a backing track unit. All the pieces are there for a wonderful live tool, and I'll show you ONE WAY to assemble them. (See update at bottom)


Looping with mainstage is simple to get started with - and you can build more complicated setups as you progress.  I'll show you how to set up a looper unit and then add playback for triggering a backing track.  You can then duplicate the looper so you can record multiple loops - which will stay in time with your backing track.    You should create your backing track with Logic using markers for the sections.  You can easily navigate your backing track in Mainstage 2 - making practicing a section a breeze, or letting you freestyle over a section until you are ready to move on.  If you are into looping, all of these things should make you pretty happy.   


  


 


  

  
  
  
    

  	  

    
  	

  

      
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        Submitted by Michel on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 09:25  


  

    
Checking out those vids are the first thing I'm gonna do when I get home from work. 


Thanks!


      


  
 





  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by ed_f on Mon, 09/14/2009 - 20:43  


  

    
Nicely done - thanks


      


  
 



  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 04/29/2010 - 17:36  


  

    
Digital performer, because it has a typical daw interface/features but a way better looper in 'Polar'  TRUST ME.


      


  
 





  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by sam on Fri, 06/11/2010 - 05:01  


  

    
Never really used DP before - I have a friend who likes it alot.   I'll have to check it out.


      


  
 




  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by treeboxterry on Tue, 09/22/2009 - 21:24  


  

    
sorry... I really didn't mean to post this twice, but realized I'd left my comment on the wrong page... I'll be more careful the next time.


is it possible to show the setup programming you did for your fcb1010 that allows you to send the right signals to Mainstage/the looper you built?


From your videos, I understand the building of the looper, etc. I just need to know how to get my fcb1010 to send midi data to Mainstage, without changing patches each time I click a pedal.


I'm sure others would benefit from your knowledgeable help with the FCB1010.


      


  
 



  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by cbtt on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 22:38  


  

    
good videos. i see you have ableton live. have you used ableton's live looping stuff? how would you compare it to mainstage 2 when it comes to live looping? thanks.


      


  
 





  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by cbtt on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 05:25  


  

    
and good tip on using the beat counter to get the first beat.


      


  
 



  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by sam on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 04:34  


  

    
I've found ableton to be much easier to use but a little less flexible in the looping area.  MainStage has Ableton beat in the instrument area and being able to set up splits and change patches easily though.  I think I'm going with Ableton for now as my live looping tool - I'm having a blast with it.


      


  
 




  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by Ben Bull on Sat, 04/03/2010 - 21:44  


  

    
Hey Sam

 

I am doing alot of live looping using Mainstage 2 and my FCB1010.. The set up i have at the moment is i have 3 loopbacks set up, all assigned to different banks on the FCB. Sometimes during a song i like to have 2 vocal tracks on top of each other, or record one for the verse and stop it for the chorus. I want to be able to replay that vocal phrase in the verse again when i come round to it.. 

At the moment when i stop a loop and then start it again later, it is out of time, even if i try my hardest to get it onto the beat. 

Is there a way to restart loops without delay?

 

Cheers 


      


  
 





  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by sam on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 05:02  


  

    
Ben Have you tried adjusting the sync settings? I remember this working the last time I used it - I've been working with ableton the past few months.


      


  
 




  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by Denny on Thu, 03/10/2011 - 17:48  


  

    
Sam,Thanks for the videos - not many around on Mainstage. I've just upgraded my iMac to Logic 9 and I have an Oxygen V2 midi keyboard and a Presonus Faderport connected. I can't see any way of mapping Loopback controls to my Midi controllers as Cmd L does nothing so you can't enter Midi learn mode unless I'm missing something? I'm mainly a guitarist and would like to map the transport controls of either of my midi controllers to stop and start Loopback - is the only way to use one of the Apogee Gio foot controllers?CheersDenny (UK)


      


  
 



  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by Isa on Thu, 06/02/2011 - 15:54  


  

    
I use Mainstage also with bass but I am addicted to effects rather than typical bass sound. However, you need a good signal from the bass. Instrument inputs of audio interfaces are usually not very good for that. I have a Sansamp RBI in front, in parallel to a Rocktron Blue Thunder. This gives me a palette of good bass sounds and effects. And I add software effects. With a good input signal you can get a phantastic sound out of Mainstage but it is not THE bass amp sound. It's a more hi-fidelity full range sound. For the real amp sound I think you have still to use a real amp after Mainstage.Nathalie


      


  
 



  
        

                

    
  
  

        Submitted by DoAn Forest on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 05:30  


  

    
Thank you for the tutorials. I've found these tremendously helpful. I was a bit lost as to how I would go about setting up the loopback controls and this has made it clear. 


      


  
 

  

 
   
 	

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